Network monitoring tool

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system for network monitoring are provided. The method retrieves and processes performance data files from each technology type in the network. These performance data files are then loaded into a time series database. At least one key performance indicator is derived from the data. The performance data is organized by region and pool level and then displayed by region and pool level. The method provides configurable thresholds for key performance indicators and alerts users to those thresholds. The apparatus provides a display allowing both monitoring and test functions to be selected. The display is automatically updated based on a predetermined, selectable time interval.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of network monitoring, the method comprising:
 retrieving and processing performance data files from each technology type; 
 loading the performance data files into a time series database; 
 deriving at least one average for at least one key performance indicator (KPI); 
 organizing performance data of the performance data files by region and pool level; 
 displaying the performance data by region and pool level; 
 configuring a threshold for the at least one KPI; 
 alerting a user to the threshold for the at least on KPI; and 
 updating automatically a display based on a predetermined time interval. 
 
     
     
       2. The network monitoring method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting a test probe from the display to perform a test. 
     
     
       3. The network monitoring method of  claim 2 , wherein selecting the test probe from the display selects a node within a geographic region to perform the test. 
     
     
       4. The network monitoring method of  claim 1 , wherein updating automatically the display changes a background color on at least one node of the network. 
     
     
       5. The network monitoring method of  claim 4 , wherein the change in background color indicates a change in node performance. 
     
     
       6. The network monitoring method of  claim 5 , wherein the color green indicates normal operation, red indicates critical performance faults, orange indicates major performance faults, blue indicates out of rotation, and gray indicates no data available. 
     
     
       7. The network monitoring method of  claim 1 , wherein the display indicates 5G nodes. 
     
     
       8. The network monitoring method of  claim 1 , wherein retrieving performance data files retrieves the performance data files from each node. 
     
     
       9. The network monitoring method of  claim 8 , wherein the retrieved performance data files are organized by region and pool level. 
     
     
       10. The network monitoring method of  claim 2 , wherein the test probe performs a virtualized test within a predetermined time period. 
     
     
       11. The network monitoring method of  claim 2 , wherein the test probe performs an ad hoc test. 
     
     
       12. A device for network monitoring, comprising:
 a display; 
 a processor; and 
 a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations comprising: 
 retrieving and processing performance data files from each technology type, wherein the performance data files comprise performance data; 
 loading the performance data files into a time series database; 
 deriving at least one average for at least one key performance indicator (KPI); 
 organizing the performance data from the performance data files by region and pool level; 
 displaying the performance data by region and pool level; 
 configuring a threshold for the at least one KPI; 
 alerting a user to the threshold for the at least on KPI; and 
 updating automatically a display based on a predetermined time interval. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting a test probe from the display to perform a test. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting a technology type to test. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the technology type to test is selected from a drop-down menu on the display. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 12 , further comprising selecting a time interval for updates via a button on the display. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 12  wherein the at least one KPI is one of: key error indicator (KEI), key capacity indicator (KCI), and key quality indicator (KQI). 
     
     
       18. A system comprising:
 a memory storing computer-executable instructions; and 
 a processor configured to access the memory and to execute the computer-executable instructions to: 
 retrieve and process performance data files from each technology type, wherein the performance data files comprise performance data; 
 load the performance data files into a time series database; 
 derive at least one average for at least one key performance indicator (KPI); 
 organize the performance data from the performance data files by region and pool level; 
 display the performance data by region and pool level; 
 configure a threshold for the at least one KPI; 
 alert a user to the threshold for the at least on KPI; and 
 update automatically a display based on a predetermined time interval. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , further comprising selecting a test probe from the display to perform a test. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein selecting the test probe from the display selects a node within a geographic region to perform the test.